The reason wasn't a sudden crime wave, but an open house to show the community improvements the department has made over the last two years.

Since 2012, Glencoe Police have acquired about $2 million in equipment through federal government surplus programs, allowing the department to take a more active hand in crime fighting and prevention, said Police Chief Jonathon Horton.

For example, visitors to the department got a look at its new mobile crime unit, a 2002 Dodge Caravan, and a similar Caravan which will be the city's animal control vehicle.

Both were acquired from Virginia with about 50,000 miles on them, and the only cost to the city was about $1,300 for striping and outfitting. The mobile crime unit is outfitted with camera, fingerprinting kit and other investigative supplies, while the animal control vehicle has kennels.

Glencoe has 7 full-time officers and 4 part-time officers, and a part-time animal control officer. Over the past two years, Glencoe has also made improvements to its offices using donated labor. The department offices now have an interview room with cameras and microphones.

"All this does is help us better serve our city and not only work on investigating crime, but preventing it," Horton said.

What's next? The department has about 12 acres near the city industrial park that Horton said would make a good firing range for training. Work could begin preparing the site within the next six months, he said.